Blue Whale tour in the Azores
Highlights
Blue and Sperm Whale sightings | Chance to see Pilot Whales, Orcas and seven species of dolphin | Turtles and Manta rays | Visit to 'Vigia' lookout tower | Optional: jeep tour of island, wine tasting at vineyard, hiking and nature walks, botanical gardens, cycling, visiting cavesTravel Team
If you'd like to chat about this vacation or need help finding one we're very happy to help. The Travel Team.
Toll free 1-866-821-6866 Calling from outside the US? rosy@responsibletravel.comCheck dates, prices & availability
Responsible tourism
As the pioneers of responsible tourism, we screen every trip so you can travel knowing your vacation will help support conservation and local people.

Research is ongoing on the boats, so these trips are helping to build our knowledge of these fantastic animals. Many of the skippers are professional photographers and maintain a comprehensive photo ID database, in particular sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales. The more we can learn about the whales and dolphins of the Azores the better we can understand things like their migrations and social structures. All this moves us closer to protecting them and the marine environment in a more knowledgeable, effective way.
Guests are encouraged to send in any photos they have taken on the whale watching trips that can be used in the ongoing photo identification projects. Every trip has a huge emphasis on conservation and sustaining the marine environment so future generations may also have the privilege of seeing marine mammals in the wild.
The Impacts of this Trip
We only work with local suppliers who employ at least 80% local people which means financial benefits to families here. The land based lookouts whose immense skill at tracking the animals previously earned money from whaling now earn money from tourists - an enormous change that we are passionate about supporting. Many of their adult children now skipper the whale watching boats and work within the small scale tourism.
Our whale watching company offers presentations in local schools to educate the children about the marine life on their doorstep with an emphasis on conservation. They are also planning to host an Azorean Whale Festival to promote the islands as one of the key locations worldwide to see whales. The Dolphin and Whale Connection donates a percentage of it's profits to the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), helping to protect whales and dolphins worldwide.
All the activities we recommend locally are run by Azoreans and are designed to maintain good relationships between visitors and the local people. For example, we sell and promote only local crafts to our guests to support local craft makers and artisans and to spread tourism income to many islanders. Our favourite restaurants are all run by Azorean people, and we do recommend that our visitors try the delicious local cuisine while supporting sustainable local fishermen in particular.
As well as whale watching we offer geological and cultural tours hosted solely by experienced local guides with an in-depth knowledge of their island and its landscape. We support the local vineyards where guests can sample the fantastic Azorean wine and take these locally produced gifts back to people at home.


Research is ongoing on the boats, so these trips are helping to build our knowledge of these fantastic animals. Many of the skippers are professional photographers and maintain a comprehensive photo ID database, in particular sperm whales, bottlenose dolphins and pilot whales. The more we can learn about the whales and dolphins of the Azores the better we can understand things like their migrations and social structures. All this moves us closer to protecting them and the marine environment in a more knowledgeable, effective way.
Guests are encouraged to send in any photos they have taken on the whale watching trips that can be used in the ongoing photo identification projects. Every trip has a huge emphasis on conservation and sustaining the marine environment so future generations may also have the privilege of seeing marine mammals in the wild.

The Impacts of this Trip
We only work with local suppliers who employ at least 80% local people which means financial benefits to families here. The land based lookouts whose immense skill at tracking the animals previously earned money from whaling now earn money from tourists - an enormous change that we are passionate about supporting. Many of their adult children now skipper the whale watching boats and work within the small scale tourism.
Our whale watching company offers presentations in local schools to educate the children about the marine life on their doorstep with an emphasis on conservation. They are also planning to host an Azorean Whale Festival to promote the islands as one of the key locations worldwide to see whales. The Dolphin and Whale Connection donates a percentage of it's profits to the World Cetacean Alliance (WCA), helping to protect whales and dolphins worldwide.
All the activities we recommend locally are run by Azoreans and are designed to maintain good relationships between visitors and the local people. For example, we sell and promote only local crafts to our guests to support local craft makers and artisans and to spread tourism income to many islanders. Our favourite restaurants are all run by Azorean people, and we do recommend that our visitors try the delicious local cuisine while supporting sustainable local fishermen in particular.
As well as whale watching we offer geological and cultural tours hosted solely by experienced local guides with an in-depth knowledge of their island and its landscape. We support the local vineyards where guests can sample the fantastic Azorean wine and take these locally produced gifts back to people at home.

19 Reviews of Blue Whale tour in the Azores
Reviewed on 19 May 2019 by Barry Brown
The most memorable part of our vacation? All of it ! Read full reviewReviewed on 28 May 2018 by Wendy Cadman
The highlight was the blue whales. A superb experience, and we would have changed hardly anything once we were there, although we had big problems with the flights both ways. Read full reviewReviewed on 20 May 2018 by Swee-Im Ung
Actually getting to see the whales as described - Blue, Fin, Sperm and Sei, as well as 3 different types of dolphins. Lisa is so experienced and enthusiastic, and the skipper of the boat was very skilled too. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 May 2018 by Jean Tuck
Informative, even as to the exact moment to click the camera shutter, skilled in being in the right place at the right time, positioning the boat for everyone's advantage, including the whale's, knowing the whales' routines, and even helping organise the non-water days. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Jul 2018 by Barbara and James Knight
Seeing the whales and dolphins in their own environment. Read full reviewReviewed on 09 Jun 2018 by Mike Segal
A great trip, it was exciting to see so many huge and rare animals, and it was also very interesting to visit the Azores, see and learn about their extraordinary geology. Read full reviewReviewed on 06 Jun 2017 by Ian Paterson
Seeing whales, fin, blue and sperm whales in their natural environment- Lisa our guide was fantastic. Read full reviewReviewed on 21 May 2017 by Trish Byrne
Excellent. Great experience....It was all very exciting, but the very best part was when we found a blue whale and a fin whale swimming side by side. This allowed us to clearly see the differences between them - almost as if they were doing it for our benefit. Read full reviewReviewed on 01 Jun 2016 by Tim Hall
Best bits: seeing five sperm whales "socialising" together and swimming in a perfect line, almost managing to synchronise their "blows", catching a great picture of the tail fin of the massive blue whale, seeing the huge side fins of the humpback just under the water giving them an eerie blue colour Read full reviewReviewed on 28 May 2016 by Janet Gaten
Whales, whales and more whales, plus lots of dolphins. Read full reviewReviewed on 05 Jun 2015 by David Turley
During our first week on Faial, being lucky enough to see our first blue whale within an hour of setting out in the catamaran.Then seeing over 50 whales (blue, fin, sei, sperm ) and over 100 dolphins (common, bottlenose, rissos ) over the three days. It was amazing. The Azores are an amazing vacation destination, we will be back. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 May 2015 by alice caldwell
Magical! It was so beautiful, seeing so many whales and dolphins. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Jun 2015 by Anne Whittle
Seeing far more whales, & more closely, than I ever expected. A wonderful experience. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Sep 2014 by Anne Arietti
Excellent....We actually saw 16 blue whales in one day. Read full reviewReviewed on 28 May 2014 by Sarah Grandy
Excellent....Seeing the ocean giants so close it was amazing Read full reviewReviewed on 26 Jun 2014 by Jean Bird
Excellent...The most memorable part was seeing the Blue Whales. Read full reviewReviewed on 07 Jun 2013 by Alison Pemble
The most memorable parts were: Crystal blue seas and skies, seeing so many whales and dolphins in their natural habitat and on their own terms, with human beings having to play second fiddle for a change, the passion, knowledge and genuine love of their work shown by all the guides, the group bonding that derives from a common shared experience. Read full reviewReviewed on 03 Jun 2013 by James Frater
Being out on the water with dolphins and whales was the most memorable part. Read full reviewOur travel guides
Our travel guides
Popular similar vacations
Whale & dolphin research in Ligurian Sea, Italy
Whale and dolphin conservation trip
From €700 - €910 6 days excluding flights
Isle of Mull wildlife vacation in Scotland
Ultimate week of wildlife spotting on the Isle of Mull
From £945 - £1035 7 days excluding flights
Sri Lanka wildlife and whales tour
Whales and the wildlife of Yala National Park
From US $3049 - US $3179 10 days excluding flights
Whale watching in the Azores
Classic whale watching trip in the Azores archipelago
From £610 7 days excluding flights